Turtles and paint parties are an unlikely pairing. But, Zante is the island of choice for both the loggerhead turtle and freshers looking to party their summers away. And, from there, it would be easy to dismiss this Ionian isle – if you’re not particularly fond of hedonism or sea creatures. But, there’s a whole island of idyllic escapes, tree-topped wilderness and stunning beaches just waiting for you to land in. Though, beautifully, Zante lets you quite happily flump down on a sun lounger for a fortnight and do little except enjoy the Greek hospitality. A rare treat in these times of explorative Insta stories. Equally, you can skip away from your beach towel to find intriguing ruins, underwater worlds of seagrass meadows and marine life, vine-filled wine estates and wildlife peppered salt flats.
Sure, there are jeep safaris, rusty shipwrecks, private boat charters, sea kayaking tours and quirky little museums to mooch through. But, ultimately, a day page flipping through your holiday novel will never feel like a day wasted. Yes, you’ll likely hear murmurs of turtle spotting echoing around the hotel pool, but if there’s one thing Zante’s turtles could do with? It’s a little peace and quiet.
